About
Orlando Magic

History of the Orlando Magic

Since the beginning, the Orlando Magic franchise has seen tremendous support from their growing fan base. In their first few seasons while the team struggled, they still sold out Orlando Magic tickets to almost every game. Now the team and franchise is one of the most dominant in the NBA, and TicketNetwork can help you get some of the cheapest Magic basketball tickets you can find.

The Orlando Magic joined the NBA along with three other franchises (Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets) in 1989. They were an expansion team that was determined to have success early, and they did. In just one season the team improved from 18-64 to 31-51. With great players like Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson, the Magic looked to have a bright future. Although they struggled in year three, their struggles helped them to land the biggest prize in the draft, literally. The team selected 7' 1", 301-pound center Shaquille O'Neal with the #1 pick, who quickly become the most dominant force in the league. O'Neal helped improve the franchise to 41-41 in his first year. The following draft saw the Magic acquire point guard Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, and he along with O'Neal formed a stand-out tandem. By the 1994/95 season the Orlando Magic had become the best team in the Eastern Conference and ran through the playoffs, knocking off the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers on their way to the NBA Finals, becoming the second-fastest franchise ever to accomplish that feat. They would go on to be swept by the Houston Rockets in the finals.

The following year the Orlando Magic were once again among the league's best, but the Orlando Magic were ousted by the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. Following the defeat, Shaquille O'Neal left for the west coast and the franchise was dealt a huge blow. They have struggled to recapture the dominance of the Shaq era but have remained competitive with players like Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill and Dwight Howard donning the jersey in the years that followed. The rise of Dwight Howard was one of the prominent eras of Orlando Magic basketball. The star center was a household name in the NBA and was a defensive force to be reckoned with. The Magic were able to surround him with enough talent during the prime of his career and the Orlando Magic made it to the NBA Finals in 2009. They won the first ever Finals game for the franchise but lost the series in five games to the LA Lakers. Dwight Howard left the franchise after a few more turbulent years, and the Magic have been sputtering ever since. With new talent acquired this offseason and a bunch of savvy veterans on the roster the Magic are looking to change their fortunes.

Most Recent Season

Prior to the 2017-18 Orlando Magic season, John Hammond from the Milwaukee Bucks was named the new general manager. In the 2017 NBA Draft the Magic acquired number 6 pick Jonathan Isaac from Florida State and number 33 pick Wesley Iwundu from Kansas State. The Magic finished the regular season with a record of 25-57. They missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season – the longest postseason drought in the Eastern Conference. Due to the poor performance from the team, the Magic fired head coach Frank Vogel at the end of the season.

Upcoming Season

The 2018-19 Orlando Magic season will be the franchise’s 30th season in the NBA. It was announced that former Charlotte Hornets head coach, Steve Clifford, will be the new head coach for the Orlando Magic. In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Magic selected Mohamed Bamba as the number 6 pick from the University of Texas. The 7ft 1in tall, twenty-year-old center was a star during his only year playing in the NCAA. He is expected to be an impressive professional basketball player. In addition to Bamba, the Magic also acquired Melvin Frazier from Tulane. The Magic’s season will kick off on October 17th against the Miami Heat. Along with the Heat, the Magic will face their other division rivals throughout the season including the Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, and Charlotte Hornets. Will the Magic be able to break their postseason drought? There is only one way to find out. Come down to the Amway Center to see your favorite team fight for a chance in the playoffs. TicketNetwork is your access for all Orlando Magic tickets. Check out our vast selection of Orlando Magic tickets and grab yours today!